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FSU students to screen first film

By Bonnie J. Toomey, Correspondent

Updated:
01/27/2013 06:37:54 AM EST

FITCHBURG -- A small group of Fitchburg University students who call themselves MovieLand Productions will host a screening of their first collaborative film, "The Reception," presented at Destaré in Fitchburg tonight from 7-10.

Jessica Killam, producer and FSU senior from Plaistow, N.H., spoke to the Sentinel & Enterprise on Saturday by phone.

She explained that "The Reception" tells the story of a group of once close-knit friends who are reunited by being forced to sit together at a wedding reception. And when sparks begin to fly as old grudges resurface, the friends find themselves taking on their old roles to deal with the sudden crisis at hand.

"I really want the audience to see the passion we have for filmmaking -- that we don't just do projects that are required for class, but we seek other opportunities to show what we are capable of," said Killam who explained, "we like to try to do a big project every semester."

Killam noted that the idea for "The Reception" began with writer and director, Justin Nelson, who is a senior at FSU and lives in Fitchburg.

MovieLand Productions was born out of the making of "The Reception" and founded by Killam, Nelson, Ari Torbin, and Eric Oliveira.

"With this current project, which we just finished shooting, we wanted to show how you can be so close to some people but not know a thing about them," said Killam.

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"The Reception" was filmed at the Four Points by Sheraton in Leominster and The Colonial Hotel in Gardner.

The cast features Jessica Bleakley of Westminster, Diana Maxfield of Norfolk, Edward Bowes of Townsend, Kimberlee Connor of Auburn, Tiffany Crosby of Lowell, and Jimi Stanton and Daniel Marcum of Pelham.

The group's second project, "'Through These Walls' took the same concept of creating something out of the classroom," noted Nelson.

Killam said the group started brainstorming for "Through These Walls" scripts last June and began the heavy pre-production in late August of 2012. Planning for "The Reception" was spearheaded with pre-production in January 2012 and shot in March of that same year.

"The creation of "The Reception" was a great experience with a group of people who put aside their egos and sacrificed their time to make something meaningful," said Nelson, who co-wrote the film with Leah Bianci of North Smithfield, R.I.

After the screening tonight guests will be invited to a question-and-answer session with the cast and crew, followed by a silent auction of gift baskets and a musical performance by local singer-songwriter Jentri Jollimore.

All proceeds from the event will go to funding the post-production costs for the film, and another project the group is developing, said Killam.

Destaré is at 320 Main St. Admission to the event will be $2 for students and $5 for the general public.

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